Design Brief Introduction to Engineering Design

Why do you need a DB?  A Design Brief is essentially the specification by which one designs…  It creates a hook that tells the reader what should be found in the rest of the document

What do you base the DB on?  The Design Brief is based on the Problem Statement  The PS can be given to the designer or it can come from their own needs The PS tells you what it is you are setting out to do. What the problem is that you will be trying to solve in your design effort

Elements of a Design Brief  There are 6 required sections and 1 optional section in a Design Brief

Required Sections  Problem ID  Problem Statement  Client/Customer ID  Marketing Research  Constraints  Deliverables

Optional Requirement  MISC. Anything you want to add to your specification not specifically called out elsewhere

Details  On each of the slides to follow the Required Sections of a DB are detailed

Problem ID  What is the problem you are going to solve Usually all you need to do is reword the given problem statement in your own words

Problem Statement  How is the problem going to be solved?

Client/Customer  Who is your prospective customer…

Marketing Piece  What is available in the marketplace to solve your problem  How will your design be different from what is already available

Constraints  What are the limits put on your design? By the given problem statement By yourself They could include:  Cost  Size  Weight  Safety  Materials These are just a few of the items that you can constrain your design. Many more can be found.

Deliverables  What is it that you will be providing with this report Deliverables can include:  Sketches  I8 drawings  Prototypes  Working models  Test results  Market Analyzes  Etc. Anything that you might include in your submission Don’t forget your conclusions!

Misc  Anything that you feel needs to be included in your design specification but doesn’t fit in one of the other categories

Example  Product Client: Office workers that utilize books or manuals in the regular course of their day’s work  Problem: Books or manuals take up a considerable amount of desk top space when open and in use on one’s desk. Design a stand that will prop the book or manual up at an angle for easy viewing while freeing up desk space for other materials  Constraints: Design must be: Relatively inexpensive to make It must be priced so consumers can afford one It must easily manufactured It must easily set up and stored when not in use. The holder must be easily moved if necessary The holder should be lightweight and safe to use The stand should be aesthetically pleasing and fit into modern office decor  Items to be included in submission Cover page Table of Contents Design Brief Decision matrix Sketches Detail drawings of parts and final assembly using AutoCAD Inventor 8 Summary Views (Assembly view with Balloons and Parts List included)

Example  Product Client: Big Gulp users who want a dry desk.  Problem: Big Gulp cups filled with soda and ice drip all over anything they are placed on. The effort here is to come up with a holder that can direct the condensate away from areas that need to be kept dry such as one’s desk work area.  Constraints: Design must be: Relatively inexpensive to make It must be priced so consumers can afford one It must easily manufactured It must divert any condensate from the outside of the cup onto the floor or into a collection device of some sort that is readily available in and office The holder must be easily set up and moved if necessary The holder should be lightweight and safe to use when installed  Items to be included in submission Cover page Table of Contents Design Brief Decision matrix Sketches Detail drawings of parts and final assembly using AutoCAD Inventor 8 Summary Views (Exploded)

Example  Product Client: None = Practice Reverse Engineering  Problem ID: Convert a classmates sketch without seeing the original part into working drawings.  Constraints: Copy design exactly as it was given to classmate. Add a spring pin through one hole. Add a bushing to main hole and add a set screw to hold bushing in place.  Items to be included in submission: Sketches given me by classmate to work from AutoCAD Inventor 8 drawings detailing design as received and as changed once given new design changes

Conclusions  If you follow these directions you will assuredly earn a majority of your credit for this section of each portfolio